The Polytech Panthers boys lacrosse squad improved their record to 8-1 on Saturday afternoon in come-from-behind fashion over Appoquinimink with a 5-4 overtime victory.

Polytech’s Jack O’Brien scored the game-tying goal with just 32 seconds left in the 4th quarter to send the game into overtime. Connor Ott would score just 26 seconds into the extra stanza to give Polytech the victory.

O’Brien led the way for the Panthers finishing with 4 goals on the day, while Ott and Kyle Hyde both found the back of the net twice in the win.

The Panthers found themselves trailing early, after giving up 3 goals in each of the first two quarters they trailed Appoquinimink 6-2 at the half.

In the second half the Panther offense began to come alive as they scored 3 goals in the 3rd quarter while holding Appoquinimink to only a goal in the stanza to cut the Jags lead to only 2 heading into the final quarter of play.

The 4th saw a desperate but determined Panther squad throwing everything they had at the Appoquinimink net in an effort to knot things up. After pulling within one, O’Brien would tie things up with just seconds to go setting the stage for Ott’s heroics in overtime.

It was a bounce-back win for the Panthers just days after dropping their first game of the year, a 8-6 loss to Wilmington Friends on Thursday. The Panthers record now stands at an impressive 8-1 overall and increases their conference record to 4-0.

Now, the Panthers head into perhaps the hardest part of their schedule.

Next up for Polytech are two tough games against conference opponents Dover (6-3) and Caesar Rodney (5-2). After that, the road doesn’t get any easier as the Panthers draw a match up with Delaware Military Academy (8-0) and another conference opponent in Cape Henlopen (6-3).

The Panthers have shown so far this season that they belong in the conversation amongst the elite within the Henlopen Conference. Now, with 6 games remaining (4 against opponents with winning records) Polytech has an opportunity to pull away from the rest of the field and head into the state tournament riding high.